Telegraph Sounder

Description (Brief):

Telegraph sounders convert electrical pulses into audible sounds and are used to receive Morse code messages. The message travels as a series of electrical pulses through a wire. Short pulses make a dot, slightly longer pulses make a dash. The sequence of dots and dashes represent letters and numbers. The pulses energize the sounder’s electromagnets which move a lever-arm. The arm makes a loud “click” when it strikes a crossbar and the operator translates the pattern of sounds into the original language. This sounder was made by J. H. Bunnell & Company, one of the major suppliers of telegraph equipment in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Maker: J. H. Bunnell & Co.

Location: Currently not on view

See more items in: Work and Industry: Electricity, Communications, Telegraph Sounders

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: from Western Union Corporation

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: EM.331511Accession Number: 294351Catalog Number: 331511

Object Name: telegraph receivertelegraph sounder

Physical Description: wood (overall material)brass (overall material)rubber (overall material)Measurements: overall: 3 1/2 in x 3 1/8 in x 5 3/4 in; 8.89 cm x 7.9375 cm x 14.605 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a7-1cd0-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_890835

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